Big Ten Cancer Centers Form Research Group

| August 20, 2013

While competition is the hallmark of the powerhouse sports teams of the Big Ten Conference, collaboration will be the key for a research initiative recently launched by cancer centers at most of the same universities.

The Big Ten Cancer Research Consortium will cooperate on clinical trials, with a particular emphasis on molecular diagnostics, in an effort that is expected to generate advancements as well as expand opportunities for junior faculty and fellows, officials said in announcing the new group in Chicago.

“This is a rare opportunity for the universities to work together as part of a regional team science initiative to advance cancer research,” said Patrick J. Loehrer, Sr, MD, director of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, in a statement. “The advantage of this, particularly during a time of austerity for research, is that we can build upon the strengths of the institutions and fortify some of the shortcomings. This allows us to be lean, efficient, but most importantly, collaborative.”

The following cancer centers and universities have joined the consortium:

Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center

Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University

Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute

Purdue University Center for Cancer Research

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, scheduled to become part of Rutgers University in July (Rutgers also is set to join the Big Ten Conference in 2014)

University of Illinois Cancer Center

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota

Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska

Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Wisconsin

The Hoosier Oncology Group, which has conducted more than 150 clinical trials involving more than 4000 patients, will serve as the administrative headquarters of the consortium. The organization is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. http://www.hoosieroncologygroup.org/